When do I need to replace my Safety Harness?

This is a great question, but there are basically two parts to consider: -

First, your Safety Harness has a “Life Span”.

What is the Life Span of a Safety Harness?

Your particular Safety Harness has a Life Span which is dictated by the manufacturer; the manufacturer would have carried out a whole load of tests and assessments on the materials used to make your harness, they would have determined how the harness would wear and deteriorate over time under standard use. From this they would determine a ‘safe’ life span for it.

The average life span of a Safety Harness is around 5 Years. But not all manufacturers are typical, some of the higher quality Harnesses have Life Spans of 10 years.

Where do I find the Life Span of my Harness?

The ID label sewn into your Harness will clearly show the Life Span Date.

Second, we have the Condition of your Safety Harness.

No matter how long the manufacturer says your Harness is suitable for, they cannot predict how it is used, treated or looked after.

Things can get damaged… it happens, this is where the Regulations kick in to help keep everyone safe.

How do I know the Current Condition of my Safety Harness – Official Inspections?

Your Safety Harness will need to be Inspected at regular intervals by a ‘responsible person’.

There are a lot of regulations that cover and mention this such as:

• The Personal Protective Equipment at Work Regulations 1992 (as amended).
• The Work at Height Regulations 2005
• BS EN 365:2004 Personal protective equipment against falls from a height. General requirements for instructions for use, maintenance, periodic examination, repair, marking and packaging

There’s a great publication by the Health & Safety Executive that goes into a lot of detail about this here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg367.pdf it can be freely downloaded and its very much worth a read.

Whilst you’re not told when to change equipment, you are told when equipment needs to be inspected to check its suitable for its intended use. The consensus is that 12 monthly intervals are the absolute minimum for official inspections.

When your Safety Harness is inspected you will be informed of its condition and whether it is suitable for continued use, if so, you will also receive an Inspection Certificate to prove this.

How can I tell its condition in-between Official Inspections?

Remember, the final responsibility rests with you you will need to carry out a Risk Assessment as to the working conditions your Safety Equipment / PPE are exposed to and manage your equipment based on its results.

If you’re an employer, you need to ensure that these things are being done and documented. Essentially, you need to be carrying out checks it as often as you feel it needs to be checked – before each job? – before each day? - this is what your Risk Assessment will tell you.

Trust your instincts – if you think your safety equipment is compromised, immediately discontinue its use until you’ve ascertained its safety, and replace it if you can’t.

Again, the “Inspecting fall arrest equipment made from webbing or rope” publication by the Health & Safety Executive goes into a lot of detail about this here: https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg367.pdf

OK, so to answer the simple questions: “When do I need to Replace my Safety Harnesses?”

Your Safety harness will need to be replaced when one of the following occurs:

• When it exceeds its Life Span.
• When it fails an official routine Inspection.
• When you lose it.
• When its damaged.
• When you can’t 100% ascertain its safety.

Now this is important - Not all Safety Harnesses are made equal:

Don’t underestimate the importance of “Life Span”

Life Span is not just a time limit manufacturers give to their products, it’s a huge indicator of Quality and Value for Money.

If a manufacturer gives a Safety Harness a 2 year life Span, they are saying to you – Yes, it’s cheap, yes, its cheerful and will last 2 years at best.

When a Manufacturer states a 10 year Life Span, they are saying, our Harnesses will last 5 times longer than a 2 year harness and twice as long as a more common 5 Year Harness – you cannot measure quality more easily and as far as Value for Money goes…. Think about that.

The Ridgegear range of Safety Harnesses and Lanyards from Survival.UK.com have a massive 10 years Life Span.

With any business purchase you ask yourself:
“When am I getting the best Value for Money?”

When you’re investing in Height Safety Equipment:

Survival UK’s Ridgegear range is the answer.